Prolific Combinations

    With all the chatter of late trying to determine how the lines will look this year, I began to think about some of the more prolific line combinations in Flyer history. Of course this is in no way a complete listing, just a few of the major combinations over the years that proved to be very successful for the Orange-N-Black.

    As we wait to see 'who will be on this wing' and 'who will center that line' for the upcoming season, take a look at a few of the combinations that, for whatever reason, had the right chemistry...

    I am not going to start out with the Flyer's greatest combination, but rather the newest one. This is the combination that appeared out of nowhere during this past season's playoffs. Obviously it may be a bit premature to include them, and by this season's end perhaps they will be removed from the list but here goes...

    Scott Hartnell - Danny Briere - Ville Leino

   Absolutely the Flyer's best line in the 2009-10 playoffs, time will tell if that immediate chemistry the trio had will carry over to the upcoming season...

    I guess I will use the 'No Brainer' of the bunch next, I don't think any explanation is needed, if you are a Flyer fan then you know the "LCB" line...

    Reggie Leach - Bobby Clarke - Bill Barber

    Here is one from the mid-late 80's. They played together at even strength and on the power play, two of them were pretty prolific on the penalty kill. Sadly, they did not have a cool code name...

    Brian Propp - Dave Poulin - Tim Kerr

    These three guys could tear it up even strength and on the powerplay with Propp and Kerr finishing off Poulin's feeds. Propp and Poulin together were monsters on the penalty kill...

    The next grouping I will only have a pair down, they really didn't have another 'set' winger, several combinations were used, but these two guys were great together whether at even strength, powerplay, or penalty kill...

    Rod Brind'Amour - Kevin Dineen

    Prolific penalty killers and excellent on the offensive as well, just 'Insert Winger Here'. At times it was Andrei Lomakin, or Greg Paslawski, Mark Pederson, or Brad Jones. Whoever they were out there with undoubtedly benefited from their chemistry...

    Now for the combinations with the cool code names...I am sure even the youngest of our brethren will know these guys, though one combination I didn't remember having a name. I am glad they did though, it's ALWAYS Cooler to have a 'Named Line'...IMHO...

    Starting things off will be a predecessor to another, the line I speak of is, of course, "The Crazy 8's" line...

    Brent Fedyk - Eric Lindros - Mark Recchi

    After being selected #8 overall by the Red Wings and spending a few years bouncing back and forth between the Red Wings and the AHL. The Flyers acquired Fedyk for a 4th round pick in October of 1992. Fedyk donned #18 and joined with Eric Lindros and Mark Recchi to form "The Crazy 8's" line...The two seasons Fedyk played on this line were the two best of his NHL career, 1992-93 also saw Recchi set the Flyers single season point record at 123. That season, 1992-93, their first together was their best and saw the trio record 115 goals, 142 assists for a total of 257 points...

    Next up, of course, is the line that succeeded the "Crazy 8's"..."The Legion of Doom"

    John LeClair - Eric Lindros - Mikael Renberg

    Created during the 1994-95 season after a trade sent Mark Recchi to the Canadiens for John LeClair, Eric Desjardins and Gilbert Dionne. LeClair was quickly inserted on a line with Lindros and Renberg. These three giants would spend the remainder of the season terrorizing opposing defenses. Sadly the trio was not able to repeat their success together the following year as injuries limited Renberg to only 23 games. LeClair and Lindros, however, continued their succes in playing together with a number of different wingers. They would reunite during the 1996-97 season, this time with Lindros losing 30 games to injury, though successful, seson's end would see Renberg traded to Tampa Bay...

    Finally, and this is the one I don't remember being named but..."The Deuces Wild" line...

    Simon Gagne - Peter Forsberg - Mike Knuble

    Formed during the 2005-06 season, the trio quickly gelled amassing 219 total points and would see Gagne score a career high 47 goals...

   So, did I miss anyone you think should be included? Check the poll below...Who do you think, other than the obvious "LCB" line, was the most prolific grouping for the Flyers?